Text alternative for the following HVAC Run-cycle Changes Chart.

The O&M staff tracks HVAC through a computer based, building management system. They follow a rigorous preventative maintenance schedule for cleaning, filters, fan belts, and lubrication. Instructional staff can contribute by keeping doors to the hall closed to keep the unit serving their room at peak performance, keeping surfaces clear to prevent dust build up, and avoiding bringing in any aerosols or cleaning products from home. We can also continue to bring in higher volumes of outside air if people dress appropriately for the weather.  

Portable air purifiers are only as good as its filter. A dirty filter concentrates pollutants, in the same space, and so this is a risk. Some “purifiers” use ionization, and some of those produce ozone, itself a toxic hazard. Air fresheners may cover up odors, but they also release fragrances and particles into the air that are themselves a hazard. They are not approved for school environments. Finally, since there is not enough information regarding its safety, SED has not approved ultraviolet light for use in schools. 

No. Because outdoor air carries dust, pollen, mold spores, and humidity it usually tests to be a greater risk to those with asthma or other respiratory conditions than filtered indoor air. Our tests of indoor air quality confirm this conclusion.   

The run cycle has been increased before school or office hours and after school or office hours to flush the interior spaces. Further, we have lifted the minimum outside air intake rate.

Building codes and ASHRAE, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, set 15 cubic feet of outside air per person as a standard for an occupied classroom. Because outside air can also be used as “free” cooling, more may be brought in temperate weather but the minimum is adhered to when it is very hot or cold outside.

Each system pulls in room air, exhausts some of it, brings in outside air, mixes it with a portion of indoor air returned to the unit, and passes the mix through a filter, which is then blown over a heating or cooling element to raise or lower the temperature as appropriate, returning temperature adjusted, filtered, freshened air to the room. The Fairport and Linden Park campuses have roof top HVAC units. Roof top units may serve multiple rooms, a zone, or a single large room such as a gym or cafeteria. The Bird-Morgan campus has univents that usually serve one room.